Dances & Tempi

A.APPROVED DANCES

1.The following dances are approved for NDCA Competitions and Championships and with the exception of Exhibition/Cabaret, all couples must dance all dances:

a.International Style Ballroom. Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep. It is required that the above five dances be used (in the order listed) in all featured professional and amateur “championship” competitions. When organizers choose to offer additional competitions that may not include all five dances it is recommended that they still offer the dances in the order listed, minus those dances not being offered.

b.International Style Latin. Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive. It is required that the above five dances be used (in the order listed) in all featured professional and amateur “championship” competitions. When organizers choose to offer additional competitions that may not include all five dances it is recommended that they still offer the dances in the order listed, minus those dances not being offered.

c.American Style Smooth. Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz. It is required that the above four dances be used (in the order listed) in all featured professional and amateur “championship” competitions. When organizers choose to offer additional competitions that may not include all four dances it is recommended that they still offer the dances in the order listed, minus those dances not being offered.

d.American Style Rhythm. Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, Bolero, Mambo. It is required that the above five dances be used (in the order listed) in all featured professional and amateur “championship” competitions. When organizers choose to offer additional competitions that may not include all five dances it is recommended that they still offer the dances in the order listed, minus those dances not being offered.

e.Additional American Style Dances. Other American style dances may be offered as either one-dance or multi-dance events by competition organizers. These dances could include but not be limited to Peabody, Merengue, Paso Doble, Samba, Polka, West Coast Swing and Hustle.

f.Theatrical and Exhibition/Cabaret Dances.

(1)Theatrical events are those in which all couples dance at the same time to pre-selected music.

(2)Exhibition/Cabaret dances are those in which couples select their own music and appear one at a time.

g.Lifts and Dangerous Movements

(1)Lifts are allowed in the Theatrical, Showdance, Grand Championship and Exhibition/Cabaret dance categories only. A lift is any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner. Couples who perform lifts in categories where lifts are not allowed may be disqualified according to the rule specifying "Implementation of Disqualification" which appears below.

(2)Dangerous movements will not be permitted in any competition or championship. A dangerous movement is any movement that places another individual at risk.

(3)Implementation of Disqualification under the "D" Rule

(a)Adjudicators observing any infringement of the Lifts and Dangerous Moves rule should note the couple's number and mark "D" at the foot of the marking sheet. The reason for the infringement should also be noted (time permitting)

(b)The adjudicator must inform the Chairman of Judges of a "D" marking

(c)The Chairman of Judges must inform the competitors concerned of the infringements and also all the adjudicators before the next round.

(d)If this or any other infringement is repeated in a subsequent round and is reported by more than one adjudicator, the marks of the competitor in that dance in that round must be deleted by the Chairman of Judges.

(e)Adjudicators observing any infringement in the final round must place those competitors in that dance and mark "D" against the competitor's number. If more than one adjudicator marks "D" against any competitors then those competitors must be placed last in that dance by the Chairman of Judges.

(f)All such disqualifications must be noted on the scrutineers' marking sheet.

(g)If a competitor repeatedly ignores the request of the Chairman of Judges to comply with any aspect of these rules, the Chairman may, at his/her discretion, disqualify the competitor/s from the event in question.

h.Pro/Am multi-dance Competitions. In all Pro/Am multi-dance competitions, dances are to be danced at all levels in the same order as for professional events. It is strongly recommended that single dance events be danced in sequence of dances to the completion of one level before moving to the next level.

B.APPROVED TEMPI

1.The following tempi for International and American Style dances are approved (given in Measures per Minute - MPM and Beats per Minute - BPM)

2.Music directors must have the equipment necessary to adjust the tempo/pitch while the music is playing, at the direction of the Chairman of Judges.